2023-08-12 19:39:00
These drinks contain an additive that can lead to poisoning. Two Anglo-Saxon government agencies are concerned about excessive consumption among children.
By LL AFP In the United Kingdom, several poisonings have been recorded after ingesting granitas. © HOUIN / BSIP / BSIP via AFP Published on 08/12/2023 at 7:39 p.m.
Granitas are consumed mainly in summer. Refreshing drinks of crushed ice, they contain an additive called glycerin which can lead to the risk of poisoning, especially in children. Two Anglo-Saxon government agencies expressed their concerns in an investigation relayed by the Free lunch.
Indeed, according to the FSA (Food Standards Agency) and the FSS (Food Standards Scotland), two cases of glycerin poisoning were identified in the United Kingdom in 2021 and 2022 in children. Both victims had to be hospitalized.
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The reason: glycerin. This additive present in this mixture of water and iced syrup allows the granita to retain a liquid consistency. The drink can thus be consumed using a straw.
Not recommended for children under 4 years old
The granita is even not recommended for children under 4 years old, who are more sensitive to the amounts of glycerin. If the risk of poisoning with a single granita is low, the drink can lead to hypoglycaemia or loss of consciousness if swallowed too quickly or excessively. To detect glycerin poisoning, one must pay attention to symptoms such as headaches or nausea.
“Symptoms of glycerin poisoning are usually mild, but it’s important for parents to be aware of the risks,” says an additives manager at the FSA.
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The two agencies have therefore called on the manufacturers of granitas to reduce the glycerin in their recipe. They said they were “grateful” to “those who have already taken action” and to “those who told us that they would soon”.
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